I'm A Born Lever-Puller

29 October 2007

Choosing the best leaders means transcending party loyalty.

“Can't help it, I'm a born Lever-puller”, Ringo Starr, Yellow Submarine 1968

Thank you to the League of Women Voters and the New Canaan Advertiser for facilitating the election debates last week in the Lapham Center. This is an important process in our local election cycle which affords us an opportunity to meet and engage the candidates that would be accountable for a $100 million+ budget. As voters, we are seeking a team of leaders who can steward our common resources in the best interests of all New Canaan residents. Those leaders need to be able to manage today’s issues while looking and planning ahead. This forum allowed us to hear, without editorial assistance, what the candidates would do to keep New Canaan thriving while protecting its very heritage as a bucolic New England town.

But does this forum serve the intended purpose or are voters’ minds already made up – divided across party lines? As I listened to the Selectman debates I wondered if people really comprehended what the candidates had to say - were they listening with open minds and hearts. While attendees were cordial, I couldn’t help but notice that the room was fairly split by party affiliation – although a table of coffee and sandwiches forced people to rub elbows and smile. I thought of that wonderful pun by Ringo Starr in the 1968 film Yellow Submarine -“Can't help it, I'm a born lever-puller.” Of course he was talking about Liverpool. I am talking about how informed we want to be about our candidates for office in New Canaan. So, are we really looking for the best candidate or are we merely biding time until we can pull the party lever. It was uplifting to hear all of the candidates for selectman put the interests of New Canaan above party politics even if for some it is purely rhetoric. Most political ads sell party affiliation as the headline – not John Smith for office (who happens to be…). I fear that many voters take that as a directive.

The dynamic between all the candidates was eerily agreeable. This may be the most “pleasant” election in many years. During the First Selectman debate, Jeb Walker took time to agree with many of Sally Hines’ positions, as did Richard Stowe. Both gentlemen agreed with her so often that I began to wonder who was running. Mrs. Hines also found occasion to agree with Mr. Walker and Mr. Stowe, although she found an opportunity to challenge both of them on their leadership and accountability records in town politics. Neither opening nor closing statements took opponents to task. In fact the only person to mention the current “issues” in Irwin Park was Mr. Walker, who, to uncomfortable laughter, likened the negative publicity he has received to his days under fire in the service of his country.

Even the Selectman debate between Penny Rashin and Rob Mallozzi was friendly, dare I say “collaborative.” Mr. Mallozzi, taking the position of the assumptive outcome, basically said he looked forward to working with Penny as a team. And, through Rob’s genuine self-deprecating humor, we learned that he is shorter than Penny. Penny quickly countered that being so tall wasn’t nearly as much fun in the 6th grade.

So what we witnessed was actually less debate than position statements. There were no attacks – no “I knew Jack Kennedy and you are no Jack Kennedy” highlights. No visceral excitement as candidates pitched barbs at one another – as in past local elections. At the end of the day it was very civil and I must say that I enjoyed it. Early in the election cycle the candidates agreed to a civil process and they have all adhered. They should be lauded for that even though at times backroom party politics have looked to derail that effort.

So what did I learn from this experience? The forum works. The comments from all of the candidates, including candidates for other offices, helped me make up my mind. The evening reaffirmed my position that even as a strong believer in the basic tenants of my chosen party - those beliefs do not carry the day in a town where our needs and desires are so much alike. We all want better schools, more services, higher property value (admit it – it’s the first thing you read every Thursday – or second after the blotter), and no tax increase – oh, and no airplanes. And we want our families to stay put in New Canaan. My lesson was, that if all the candidates agree, then I am looking for unique qualities of leadership and accountability for my vote (the candidate who has a proven track record of collaboration and finding solutions), a track record of success at the town level (the candidate who has a proven track record of service to our town), and vision for New Canaan’s future.

When I apply those criteria I actually find acceptable candidates for all elected positions with leadership qualities who have different backgrounds, different skills, and even different party affiliations.

Yes, I quite agree with the Selectman candidates - the issues that we face as a town do not fall on either side of a party line. They require leadership, thoughtfulness, and an ability to find solutions through a collaborative process – actual consensus may be too much to hope for. The party politic (all parties) may not like this individual thinking. They would have us think like Ringo. But alas, I have never been to Liverpool.

On November 6th I will vote for the best candidates for office - and that takes individual thought – not party loyalty for its own sake. What will you do?

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[This OpEd was first published in The New Canaan Advertiser, November 1, 2007]

Rebuttal to Richard Stowe Letter

To the editor - New Canaan Advertiser:

In announcing his bid for the First Selectman position Richard Stowe has come out of the gate leading with misinformation – not a quality that voters hold dear in elected officials. Mr. Stowe is quoted in a recent article (Stowe Qualifies for Line on Ballot - New Canaan Advertiser, September 27, 2007) as saying that both major parties “threw out their respective incumbent first selectman candidates. In fact all selectman were ousted”. The first point of fact is that Johnny Potts decided to step down and not run for the Selectman’s seat for personal reasons. He was not thrown out by his party. Mr. Potts was not even on the ballot at the Democratic Caucus where Sally Hines and Penny Rashin ran unchallenged. Stowe’s characterization is untrue and seeks to create a negative air of intrigue around Mr. Potts’ service to the town in order to help Stowe’s own cause. Not a flattering personality trait.

Stowe seeks to create further intrigue with a veiled comment about the Democratic team being “closely associated with the $13 million asbestos abatement project costs in the high school renovation project”. Well here he may have a point, albeit not the one he was trying to make. Neither Sally Hines nor Penny Rashin is responsible for the asbestos found at NCHS. Sally Hines has served on the Board of Education for over a decade and Penny Rashin has served on the NCHS Building Committee alongside Christine Wagner for several years. Ms. Wagner recently had a room named after her at NCHS to honor her service leading the committee while both Hines and Rashin have been praised for their integrity and service to the Town of New Canaan. Republicans and Democrats alike raised Sally Hines to the position of Board President where she has served on a successful bi-partisan body to improve education for our children.

Mr. Stowe seems to have developed some strong opinions about his opponents for office. With his focus on the environment, Mr. Stowe has JebWalker clearly in his sights; “The felling of 50-75 trees at Irwin Park earlier this year stunned many Town Council members…”. In seeking to paint the Democratic candidates with the same brush he would smear them with innuendo rather than fact. At least he is consistent. He would use innuendo to have us believe that he holds adequate credentials to run a $100 million budget. Stowe will work to do everything he can, according the Advertiser article. But alas, what can he do? The Board of Selectmen are charged with leading our town. That requires skill and experience. Mr. Stowe has demonstrated neither in his credentials or his platform – only an attempt to besmirch the reputation of the other candidates.

To give Mr. Stowe his due, he certainly has a voice and a point of view that should be heard. We do need to consider environmental stewardship as part of our overall town plan for the future, but that idea alone does not a First Selectman make. We need to have responsible stewardship for all of our resources in New Canaan – the environment is one part of the foundation.

I hope that Mr. Stowe will come back to the table with less divisive information and instead focus on concrete plans and a proactive campaign. I also hope that Mr. Stowe will unveil his strengths to us instead of trying to fabricate weaknesses in his opponents if he is to be taken seriously by New Canaan voters. Mr. Stowe – tell us why we should consider voting for you, not why we shouldn’t vote for the Republican or Democratic candidates.

Robert Doran